Kelowna RCMP are seeing “significant” increases in social disorder calls, assaults, domestic violence, files related to uttering threats and overdose files.
In a report headed to council on Monday, RCMP Supt. Kara Triance explains that “Kelowna is not immune to the trends in persons offences being experienced in other communities across Canada.”
According to the comparison of year-over-year changes from 2019 to 2021, Kelowna has seen a 33% increase in social disorder calls in the downtown area.
In 2019, the RCMP received 2,297 disorder calls. Last year, they received 3,052 calls.
Person offences increased by 38% – a rise from 2,380 calls in 2019 to 3,290 calls in 2021.
Traince adds that common assaults, domestic violence, assaults with a weapon and files related to uttering threats have increased by more than 25% each.
Calls to the RMCP regarding domestic violence increased from 673 in 2019 to 884 last year.
Common assault calls rose from 986 in 2019 to 1,261 in 2021 and calls related to instances of uttering threats increased from 514 in 2019 to 802 last year.
Supt. Triance also notes that there has been an “alarming” increase in drug overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal, which has increased “the workload and stress/trauma experienced” by frontline officers.
The number of calls for non-fatal overdose calls rose from 39 in 2019 to 68 last year. In 2019, there were 18 fatal overdose calls and 32 calls last year.
However, these numbers don’t reflect the total number of overdose deaths in Kelowna. The BC Coroners Service reported 73 drug toxicity deaths in Kelowna in 2021.
“These trends are concerning although some were anticipated as they related to the effect that COVID-19 has had on personal, familial and community conditions and routines,” writes Triance.
“Many of these are complex, entrenched issues, requiring a multi-system response.”
The number of calls for theft from motor vehicles and shoplifting remain lower than 2019 but continue to rise. Triance explains that this results “from a small number of prolific offenders for whom access to adequate care or consequences is limited.”
In 2019, calls for theft from motor vehicles totalled 2,813 while police received 1,421 calls related to shoplifting.
Last year, those numbers were down to 2,336 and 1,358, respectively.
Additionally, reported property offences are also on the rise but still remain lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The RMCP received 11,830 calls related to property offences in 2019. There were 11,396 calls last year.
Kelowna’s RCMP Community Safety Unit and Investigative Services are now working together through a pilot project aimed at expanding capacity to address the increase in property related crimes.
Triance finished her report by saying that the Kelowna RCMP “remain committed to the development of innovative, long-term approaches that involve social, educational and health sectors.”
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